Dell stops selling AMD-powered machines online

Update: Dell has removed the disclaimer from its website that read "Computers with AMD processors are not available online," and as Dellís Anne Camden points out: Latitude, Vostro and Optiplex systems using AMD processors will continue to be made available on Dell's website.

It's been a long while now since Dell adopted a range of AMD processors in its systems, but it appears that its relationship with the struggling chipmaker may soon be coming to an end Ė at least online. A quick look over on the US Dell website shows a cautionary note at the top of the search page for anyone looking for an AMD system:

Shop for Dell computers with AMD processors in retail stores. See our retail partners for details. Computers with AMD processors are not available online.Those of you looking for an AMD-powered Latitude D531, Vostro 1000 or OptiPlex 740 will have to get it at one of Dellís retail locations such as Best Buy, Staples, or Wal-Mart. Of course, the overwhelming majority of Dellís business is done online so this is clearly a big blow to AMD Ė and to consumer choice. But given AMDís less-than-stellar performance of late, it is hard to argue that Dell should focus on AMD chips, as Intelís Core 2 range of processors manages to beat them on price versus performance in pretty much every area of the market.